Thomas O. Malcolm, 79, a celebrated high school wrestler who became a Chester County trial lawyer, died Thursday, Feb. 16, of pneumonia at Barclay Friends, the continuing-care community in West Chester.

Mr. Malcolm founded, with Howard F. Riley Jr., the law firm Malcolm & Riley in 1972 and remained with the firm into the 1990s, his son Thomas said.

Thomas O. Malcolm

He lived in East Goshen from 1969 to 2011.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Mr. Malcolm graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1950 and earned a bachelor's degree at Dartmouth College in 1954.

His son said that, in competitions for District One of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Mr. Malcolm was the wrestling champion in the 154-pound class in his sophomore and junior years and the 165-pound class in his senior year.

After completing his military obligation, working as a Navy courier on Capitol Hill in Washington, he graduated from Georgetown University Law School in 1960.

Mr. Malcolm became a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1991.

Besides his son Thomas, Mr. Malcolm is survived by sons Harry, Stuart, and Timothy; daughters Jennifer Saller and Carol Curley; a sister; and 12 grandchildren. His wife, Helen, died in 2004.

A viewing was set from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Mauger-Givnish Funeral Home, 24 Monument Ave., Malvern. A second viewing was set from 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, 125 Boot Rd., West Goshen, before a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass there, with burial in the cemetery of St. Agnes Church, West Chester.